Method of and apparatus for manufacturing metallic closures



Sept. 28, 1937. J. J. WILLIAMS 2,094,031 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FORMANUFACTURING METALLIC CLOSURES Filed Dec. 4, 1953 Smaentor JZZm J-William pami-um attorney 3 Shee ts-Sheet 2 Bnventqr dams J. J. WILLIAMSFiled Dec. 4, 1933 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING METALLICCLOSURES Sept. '28, 1937.

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Gnome Se t. 28, 1937. J. J. WILLIAMS 2,094,031 METHOD OF AND APPARATUSFOR MANUFACTURING METALLIC CLOSURES Filed Dec. 4, 1933 3 Sheets-$heet 3Zmventor attorney T Patented Se t. 28, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT orrlcMETHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MANU- FACTURING METALLIC CLOSURES' John J.Williams, Wheeling, W. Va., assignor to Hazel-Atlas Glass Company,Wheeling, W. Va., a corporation of West Virginia Application December 4,1933, Serial No. 700,900

18 Claims.

, tion is to greatly increase the speed of manufacturing these closures.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus bywhich the head will be completely curled inwardly right up to the lug,as distinguished from a construction in which the bead is graduallyuncurled up to the lug. 7

Another object of the invention is to provide means by which the capwill be positively and automatically ejected after its formation.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentto those skilled in the art from the following description when taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings; in 'which, I

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the apparatus; the parts beingshown in the positions they assume in theirdownward movement,

but prior to reaching the metallic blank.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, but showing the parts in thepositions they assume after engaging the blank, and with certain partsomitted.

Figure 3 is a similar view, but showing the parts in the positions theyassume during their upward movement; the completed cap having beenejected. In this figure certain parts are broken away and other partsare omitted.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the curling ring.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail view of one of the lug forming fingersand associated parts.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of one of the lug forming fingers.

Figure 7 is a detail finger holder.

Figure 8 is a detail knockout pad.

Figures 9 and 10 are detail views illustrating the manner in which thebead is completely curled right up to the lugs.

Figure 11 is a similar view illustrating how, in the formation of a capwithout the use of the improved lug forming fingers, the head would begradually uncurled up to the lugs.

Figures 12 and 13 are a detail plan and vertical sectional view,respectively, of a portion of the cap and one of the lug formingfingers, and illustrating how the bead is completely curled up to thelugs; and

perspective view of the perspective view of the;

Figure 14 is a view similar to Figure 12, but illustrating how the beadis gradually uncurled up to the lugs when the improved lug formingfinger of the present invention is not employed.

Referring to the drawings in more detail, numeral I indicates asupporting plug which is solidly bolted to a plate 2; the plate beingfastened to the bolster plate of the press. Numeral 3 refers to alocating ring sliolably mounted on the plug I, and normally held initselevated position by the springs 4. When the ring is in its elevatedposition it assists in properly positioning the cap blank -5 on thesupporting plug, and when the shaping mechanism descends to form the capit pushes the locating ring downwardly out of the way.

Numeral '6 refers to the die holder which is clamped or otherwisesecured to the crosshead 'l of the press. The crosshead is illustrateddiagrammatically, and the mechanism of the press for raising andlowering the crosshead is not illustrated, as such mechanism is old andwellknown.

1 A centering ring 8 is mounted on the lower end of the die holder, andthis ring is preferably beveled as indicated by numeral 9. The centeringring performs the function of accurately centering the blank 5 on thesupporting plug, and also forces the locating ring 3 downwardly as theparts come into position to form the cap.

Also mounted in the holder, and above the' centering ring, is thecurling diev H]. The lower side of the curling ring is provided with anannular groove II which causes the skirt of the blank to be curledinwardly; and at intervals the inner side of the groove is cut away atwhatever may' be the desired angle of the In as best shown in Figure 4and referred to by numeral l2. Of course the number of these angularportions in the curling die depends upon the number of lugs to beformed. In the form illustrated four lugs are formed but the number oflugs varieswith the size of the cap. Any desired means may be employedfor securing the centering ring 8 and the curling die Hi to the dieholder 6, but the preferred arrangement is best illustrated in Figure 1,

which shows in dotted lines bolts [3 for securing these three partstogether.

Numeral l4 refers to the holder for the lugging members, and this holderis normally held downward against the curling die by the springs 15.These springs permit relative movement between the holder l4 and thecurling ring ID, as will appear hereinafter. The lugging members,referred to by numeral I6, are pivotally mounted importance in thepresent invention as they are in the holder 14. The specific design ofthe holder is best illustrated in Figure 7, but it is to be understoodthat the invention is in no mannerlimited to this specific form. Byreference to Figure '7 it will be noted that the holder is provided withchannels I4 in which the lugging members are pivotally mounted by pinsl8 carried in openings I8 provided in the walls of the channels.

The lugging members I6 are of very material so designed as to accomplishan entirely new and most desirable function. The construction of thelugging members is best illustrated in Figure 6, which shows one of themembers in perspective and on an enlarged scale. By reference to thatfigure it will be noted that an upwardly extending finger orprotuberance I1 is provided at the end' of the member. This finger iscurved at its top to substantially the curvature of the bead, and

its rear face,'indicated by numeral I1, is inclined.

at the angle of the lug to be formed. Of course the size and particularshape of the finger Il may be varied according to the size of the capand according to the particular inclination desired in the lug.Particular attention is called to the fact that the finger I1 isarranged centrally of the lug member, so that a flange or shoulder I9 isprovided on either side of the finger; and that the sides 20 01? thefinger extend upwardly abruptly. from these shoulders. these shouldercause the bead to be completely The manner in which curled right up tothe lugs will be described hereinafter. The lugging members I6 are, aspreviously stated, pivotally mounted upon pins I8, and

it will be noted that the tops of these members are provided twoinclined faces 2 I and 22 which in cooperation with the bottom of theholder I4 limit the outward and inward swinging movement of the lugmembers.

Numeral. 23 refers to the knock-out pad which strikes against the bottomof the blank and holds it firmly on the plug I during the formingoperation, and which subsequently ejects the cap, as will be describedhereinafter. In the specific mechanism illustrated the knock-out pad isprovided with an annular upstanding fiange 24, which is best illustratedin Figure 8. This flange is interrupted at intervals .to form openings25 through which the lugging fingers pass; and at these points the padis slightly recessed as indicated by numeral 26, so that there will beno possibility of the lugs catching on the pad when the caps areejected. By reference to Fig. '7 it will be noted that the ends of thewalls forming the channels I4 are cut away at 21 to an extent equal tothe thickness of the flange 24, so that the lug holder will have a neatfit with the pad when these parts are in cooperating positions. It willof course be understood that this specific construction, which ismerelythe preferred form, may be modified in any respect desired.

The knock-out pad 23 is mounted on a stem 28 which is angular incross-section. This stem position with repect to the other moving partsby the spring 32, so that when the die is moving downward, as shown inFig.1, the holder I4, the

curling die, the lugging fingers, and the knockout pad are all heldtogether in proper position to act upon the blank or shell 5. When theknock-out pad strikes the bottom 'of the shell no. 4

further downward movementofthe pad, lugging members and the holder I4 ispossible, but the die holder 6 and the curling die continue the downwardmovement to form the blank into a 4 finished cap, so that the curlingdie becomes spaced from the holder for the lugging members, as indicatedin Figure 2, and referred to by numeral 33. When the cap is formed andthe die moved upwardly the parts resume the positions shown in Figure 1,but the upward movement continues and finally the stem strikes theknockspect to the cap itselfas well as to the formation thereof.

While the crosshead of the press is at the upper end of its stroke ablank or shell is placed on the operating plug I, either automaticallyor by hand; the blank being centered by the ring 3. The positions of theparts when at the upper end of the stroke are shown in Fig. 3. Theclutch of the press being now tripped the crosshead descends and carrieswith it the die holder 6, the curling ring I0, the holder I4 for thelugging members and the lugging members I6; it being understood ofcourse that the springs I5 normally maintain the holder I4 in a downwardposition againstthe curling ring. Whilethese parts descend the spring 32holds the knock-out pad upward, so that this pad is, in effect, drawnupwardly, until it engages the holder." and the lugging'members I6. Theparts have now been brought to the position shown in Fig. l; and whilethe downward movement has not been sufficient to bring the die intocontact with the blank, yet it will be noted that all of the parts arein position ready to enter the blank and shape it into a completed cap.The holder I4 is held down against the curling die by the springs I5,and the knock-out pad. is held upwardly against the lugging members andthe holder by the spring 32. The flat bottom faces of thelugging members00- operate with the fiat upper face of the knock-out pad, and a portionof the top face of the lugging members cooperates with the flat bottomface of the holder, so that the lugging members are firmly held'in theexact operative position desired. Thus positive -means is provided bywhich the lugging fingers II'and the shoulders I9 are always forced toassume the same position. This is of importance because these fingersand shoulders perform important functions in .the formation of the cap,and any variance in' their positions will cause undesirable variationsin the finished cap.

As the crosshead further descends from the position shown in Figure 1the centering ring-8 strikes the locating ring 3 and forces it downwardout of the way, and the edge of the shell 5 enters the centering ring,which is preferably beveled at its lower edge to aid in receiving theshell. Upon continued downward movement the knock- When the knock-outpad strikes the shell no further downward movement of the pad, thelugging fingers or their holder is possible, but the die holder 6continues to descend, thereby compressing the springs I5 and increasingthe pressure of the pad against the bottom of the shell. The curling dienow comes into contact with the upper edge of the shell and as the diedescends the edge is forced to curl inwardly uniformly throughout itsentire extent. This continues until a completely curled bead is formedentirely around the cap, except at those points where the lugs are to beformed. At these points the edge curls freely until it comes intocontact with the face II of the lugging fingers I1, and as the diecontinues its downward movement the metal is forced to follow thecontour of the lugging fingers, thereby positively shaping the metal togive the lugs the exact angle desired. It is important, in themanufacture of the specific cap illustrated, that these lugging fingersbe of such design that the curling metal edge will strike them at theproper instant. For instance, if the plane of the inclined faces II'should be too low the metal will start to curl outwardly beforecontacting with the faces, with the result that the,

metal will double upon itself, thereby deforming the single sheet lugsillustrated and rendering the cap useless. Itwill therefore beunderstood that in the manufacture of caps with single sheet lugs thelugging fingers must be so positioned that the;

incurling metal will strike them before the curling operation hascontinued to such an extent that the metal is moving outward.

If the lugging members included only the fingers H the metal on eitherside of the fingers would be prevented from becoming completely curled,due to the strains set up in the metal by the lugging fingers. That is,in the completed cap the metal would remain largely uncurled immediatelyadjacent the lugs and would gradually taper oif away from the lugs to acomplete curl.

This is illustrated in Figs. 11 and 14, and in practice it produces themost serious difllculties, just a few of which will be briefly mentionedhere, before continuing the description of the operation. In themanufacture of glass containers there is always a slight variance in thefinish. These variations are kept within fixed limits, termed thetolerance. In lug caps the lugs must project inwardly clear of otherparts of the cap a suflicient distance to properly engage the threads ofthe finish whether the container happens to have a maximum finish, aminimum finish, or a finish anywhere between a maximum and minimum. Ifthe bead remains partly uncurled adjacent the lugs then that portion ofthe lug which is free to engage the finish of the container isnecessarily measured from the end' of the lug to the outermost uncurledportion. It

is apparent that in such a construction the lug is too shallow to takecare of the tolerance, so that in minimum finishes or finishes near theminimum the lug might fail to engage the threads of the finish. In someinstances instead of the lugs engaging the threads the uncurled portionadjacent the lugs will engage, and this not only improperly positionsthe cap on the container but also the edge of this uncurled portion islikely to become bent when pressure is applied in turning the cap tosealing position. In general, the

figures it will be. noted that in Fig. 9-the metal cations.

construction described above may result in-the cap being totally unfitfor use, or it may be positioned off center of the c'ontainer, or it mayassume a lopsided position on the container, etc. A poor seal is theresult. These most serious difiiculties and various other difficultiesare entirely overcome by the present invention, as will be made clearbelow. s

In the operation thus far described the die has descended far enough tocurl the entire bead inward, and at the points where the lugs are to beformed the metal has engaged the inclined faces of the lugging fingersand is following the contour'of the lugs. The fingers I1 are arrangedcentrally of the lugging members, so that shoulders I9 are formed oneach side of the fingers. The metal immediately adjacent the lug nowengages theseshoulders and is forced to the same,-

complete curl it would have. assumed if the lugs were not formed. Inother words the incurled bead of the cap leads directly up to the lugsin -a uniform curl. The shoulders I9 cause this complete curlingup tothe lugs, and the ab-' rupt ends 20 of the fingers permit it. Theaccomplishment of this most desirable result will perhaps be betterunderstood by 'reference to Figs. 9, 10, 12 and 13. By reference tothesed rectly adjacent the finger has just engaged the shoulder I 9, andfurther downward movement of the die causes it to curl completely; theshoulder preventing the metal from passing below its plane and causingit to curl upwardly. Fig. 11 makes clear what happens when the shouldersI9 are not present. Also, Figs. '12 and l3 illus trate how the curledhead is completed directly up to the lugs when the shoulders areemployed, and Fig. 14 illustrates how the portions adjacent the lugsremain partly uncurled when the shoulders'are not employed. It should bementioned that the position of the shoulders is also of importance. Ifthe shoulders are too high the metal will engage too soon and will beforcedtoward 'the center of the cap instead'of outwardly; and

if it is too low it will not causethe fmetal to be be engaged bythemetal just about the time the metal is starting to curve outwardly.

curled 'sufiiciently. The best position is ap-' proximately asillustrated in Fig. 9; i. e., the shoulder is preferably so positionedthat it will The cap is now completed and the die starts its upwardmovement. If this upward movement left the cap on the plug I the speedof production would be considerably reducedfor the cap would then haveto be removed from the plug by hand or by some other means which wouldslow down production and cause compli- In accordance with the presentinvention the finished cap is automatically removed. As the die firststarts upward the springs I5 maintain the holder I4, the lugging fingersand the knock-out' pad in their lowermost position, while the die holderand the curling dieIIJ move upward. But when the curling die strikes theholder I 4 then'all of the parts move upward together; and as the spring32 is maintaining the knock-out pad upwardly against the holder I4 andthereby keeping the lugging fingers in their extended or operativepositions, it follows that the completed cap must be lifted from theforming plug I, for the lugs ofthe cap are positioned over thesefingers.

The cap 35 has now been lifted from the plug I, the locating ring 3 hasbeen moved to its elevated position by the springs 4 in place to receiveWhen the crosshead approaches the upper limit of its stroke the stem 28strikes the knock-out bar 34 (Fig. 3) wh ch prevents furtherupwardmovement of the knock-out pad. The other parts ccntinue their upwardmovement and thus the pad is separated from the holder N. This relativedownward movement of the knock-out pad forcibly ejects the completedcap, and the lugging members are thrown to their inoperative position,all of which is illustrated in Figure 3. The caps fall by gravity, ormay be blown by compressed air, into a container suitably placed toreceive them.

It should be noted that the lugging fingers are pivoted in such mannerthat they will swing downward and inward away from the cap lugs at arate of speed relative to the downward speed of the knock-out pad thatwill permit them to clear these lugs without distorting them. Also, thecut-out portions 28 of the knock-out pad prevent the lugs from catchingon the pad while being ejected. The inclined face 2! at the top of thelugging members limits the inward movement of these members so. thatthey will be proprepetition of the cycle is started by the tripping ofthe clutch.

While the preferred apparatus has been described in detail it is to beunderstood that the present invention in both the method and apparatusis in no manner limited to the specific disclosure. In other words, theparticular apparatus shown and described is to be considered asillustrative rather than in any limiting sense.

What I claim is:

1. The method of forming metallic lug caps which consists of forming ablank having a uniform depth, forming an incurled bead about the edge ofthe blank, while the metal is curling inward forming lugs at the desiredpoints by causing the raw edge of the metal to extend inwardly beyondthe curled portions,'and simultaneously with the formation of the lugscausing the metal immediately adjacent the lugs to be curled into a beadsubstantially uniform with the remainder of the incurled bead.

2. The method of forming metallic lug caps which consists of forming ablank having a uniform depth, forming an incurled bead about the edge ofthe blank, while the metal is curling inward forming lugs at the desiredpoints by causing the raw edge of the metal to extend inwardly, beyondthe curled portions, and during the formation of the lugs causing themetal immediately adjacent the lugs to be so curled that the portionthereof nearest the top of the cap will be in substantially the sameplane as the similar portion of the remainder of the bead.

3. The method of forming metallic lug caps which consists of forming ablank having a uni- 'form depth, forming an incurled bead about the 4.The method of forming metallic lug caps which consists of curlingportions of the blank over protuberances to form lugs, and while themetal is following the contour of the proturberances intercepting thecurling metal immediately adjacent the lugs and causing it to curloutwardly. 1

5. The method of forming metallic lug caps which consists of curlingportions of the blank over protuberances to form lugs, and while themetal is following the contour of the protuberances intercepting thecurling metal immediately adjacent the lugs and preventing it frompassing below a predetermined plane.

6. The method of forming metallic lug caps which consists of forming anincurled bead about the edge of the blank, at the points where lugs areto be formed engaging the incurling metal to form lugs after the metalhas curled the desired extent, and engaging the incurling metal adjacentthe lug forming portions and preventing it from passing below apredetermined plane.

7. Apparatus for forming metallic lug caps including a curling die,means for moving said curling die to cause the edge of the cap blank tocurl inwardly, lug forming fingers for shaping portions of the incurlingmetal into lugs, and means adjacent the fingers for limiting thedownward movement of the metal adjacent the lugs.

8. Apparatus for forming metallic lug caps including means for curlinginwardly the edge of the cap blank, means for forming inwardlyprojecting lugs from the incurling metal, and means for fixing thelowest plane of the incurled metal immediately adjacent the lugs.

9. Apparatus for forming metallic lug caps including means for curlinginwardlkthe edge of the cap blank, means for forming inwardly projectinglugs from the incurling metal, and means engaged by the curling metaladjacent the lugs,

the last-mentioned means preventing further downward movement of themetal.

10. Apparatus for forming metallic lug caps including means for curlingthe edge of a cap blank into a substantially completely curled beadexcept at intervals, means for forming inwardly projecting lugs at saidintervals, and means for forcing the incurled metal immediately adjacentthe lugs into a substantially completely curled bead.

11. Apparatus for forming metallic lug caps including a curling die forinwardly curling the edge of a cap blank, a lug-forming finger movableinto the path of the curling die, and shoulders on boi sides of saidfinger to engage the incurling metal immediately adjacent to saidfinger.

12. Apparatus for forming metallic lug caps including a curling die forinwardly curling the edge of a cap blank, a lug-forming finger movableinto the path of the curling die, and means adjacent to and below thetop of said finger for limiting the downward movement of the metal atthe sides 01' the lug-forming finger.

13. Apparatus for forming metallic lug caps including a forming plug toreceive a cap blank, a plurality of lugging fingers, a curling die,means for moving the lugging fingers intothe path of said die, saidlugging fingers lifting the completed cap from said forming plug.

14. Apparatus for forming metallic lug caps including a forming plug toreceive a cap blank, a plurality of lugging fingers, a curling diecurling the edge of the blank inwardly and forming lugs over saidlugging fingers, said lugging fingers lifting the completed cap fromsaid forming plug,

1 and means for positively ejecting the cap after it has been liftedfrom the forming plug.

15. Apparatus for forming metallic lug caps including a forming plug toreceive a cap blank, a curling die, a holder for said curling die,lugging members, a holder for said lugging members, a knock-out pad, 2.spring normally maintaining the holder for the lugging membersdownwardagainst the curling die, and a spring normally maintaining the knock-outpad upward against the lugging members.

16. Apparatus for forming metallic lug caps including a forming plug toreceive a cap blank, a curling die, lugging members, said curling dieforming lugs in the blank over said lugging members, said luggingmembers lifting the completed cap from the forming plug, a knock-outpad, and means for causing relative movement between the lugging membersand the knock-out pad to eject the cap.

17. Apparatus for forming metallic lug caps including a forming plug toreceive a cap blank, a curling die, a holder for the curling die,lugging members, a holder for the lugging members, said curling die andlugging members cooperating to form the cap, a knock-out pad below thelugging members, means normally holding together the knock-out pad andthe holder for the lugging members, and means for separating theknockout pad and the holder for the lugging members to eject the cap.

18. The method of forming metallic lug caps which consists of forming ablank having a uniform depth, forming anincurled bead about the edge ofthe blank, forming lugs projecting inwardly from the bead at the desiredpoints, and

bead.

JOHN J. WILLIAMS.

